Fragrance accessories for use with home fashions and consumer products

ABSTRACT

A fragrance accessory kit includes a container defining an open interior and having a lid, and packets that are each formed of a vapor-permeable fabric and are sheet-like in geometry. The vapor-permeable fabric is secured about scented material within each of the packets, which are stacked within the container. A fragrance accessory system includes a fragrance accessory, including a packet formed of a vapor-permeable fabric secured about a portion of scented material. The consumer product can removably receive the fragrance accessory such that the portion of scented material provides a scent for the consumer product. A method of implementing a fragrance accessory includes securing scented material within a packet formed of a vapor-permeable fabric. The method further includes configuring the consumer product to removably receive the packet.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/831,073, filed Jun. 4, 2013, and titled “Fragrance Accessories For Use With Home Fashions And Consumer Products,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Decorative objects and so-called “home fashions” are in widespread use by consumers. Such items provide consumers with opportunities to personalize their living or work spaces according to their own fashion sensibilities.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary does not in any way limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In an embodiment, a fragrance accessory kit includes a container defining an open interior and having a lid to enclose the interior, and a plurality of packets that are each formed of a vapor-permeable fabric. Each packet is sheet-like in geometry. A scented material is within each of the packets. The vapor-permeable fabric is secured about the scented material as to prevent escape of the scented material from the packet. The packets are stacked adjacent each other within the container.

In an embodiment, a fragrance accessory system includes a fragrance accessory, including a packet formed of a vapor-permeable fabric, and a portion of scented material. The vapor-permeable fabric is secured about the scented material as to prevent escape of the scented material from the packet. The consumer product is configured to removably receive the fragrance accessory such that the portion of scented material provides a scent for the consumer product.

In an embodiment, a method of implementing a fragrance accessory for use with a consumer product includes securing a scented material within a packet so as to prevent escape of the scented material from the packet. The packet includes a vapor-permeable fabric and forms the fragrance accessory. The method further includes configuring the consumer product to removably receive the fragrance accessory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fragrance accessory, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a fragrance accessory retained within a consumer product, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates insertion of a fragrance accessory within another consumer product, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates insertion of a fragrance accessory within another consumer product, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates insertion of a fragrance accessory within another consumer product, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates fragrance accessories outside of and within packaging for retail sale, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates options for marketing fragrance accessories, and consumer products configured to receive the fragrance accessories, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the drawings herein are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fragrance accessory 100. Fragrance accessory 100 includes a packet 110 formed of a vapor-permeable fabric 120 that encloses scented material 130, as shown. FIG.

1 shows fabric 120 as transparent in FIG. 1 for clarity of illustrating scented material 130 within packet 110, but fabric 120 need not be transparent. Scented material 130 may include a fragrant natural substance such as plant material, for example, and/or may include artificial items such as scented beads or paper. In particular, scented beads may be formed of a mixture of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and a fragrance. The vapor permeability of fabric 120 allows fragrance 140 from scented material 130 to diffuse into air adjacent to packet 110, where fragrance 140 may be smelled. Fragrance 140 adds a layer of fashion sensibility to the visual focal point provided by fragrance accessory 100 and/or a consumer product associated with fragrance accessory 100, as discussed further below. Fabric 120 is secured about scented material 130 sufficiently to prevent scented material 130 from escaping from packet 110; for example fabric 120 may be sewn, stapled or heat-sealed about scented material 130. Packet 110 forming fragrance accessory 100 is shown as relatively flat and square in FIGS. 1 and 2, but in other embodiments fragrance accessory 100 need not be either flat or square (see, e.g., FIGS. 3, 4 and 5).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, fragrance accessory 100 is a rectangular packet formed of a sleeve of vapor-permeable fabric 120 that is secured about scented material with seams 150 at opposing sides of packet 110. In another embodiment, a fragrance accessory is a rectangular packet that is formed of a portion of vapor-permeable fabric that forms a folded edge on one side, and is secured about the scented material with seams opposing one another and opposing the folded edge. In still another embodiment, a fragrance accessory is a rectangular packet that is formed of two rectangular portions of vapor-permeable fabric that are secured about the scented material with four seams, one seam on each edge. Rectangular fragrance accessories are sheet-like in geometry to facilitate adjacent stacking within retail packaging and placement within consumer products; herein “sheet-like in geometry” means that a fragrance accessory is substantially flat and thinner in one dimension than in other dimensions. For example, a rectangular fragrance accessory has a thickness that is about one-eighth, or less, of a shortest one of the rectangular edges. In still other embodiments, fragrance accessories may not be rectangular and/or sheet-like in geometry.

When scented material 130 includes scented beads, the beads may be ellipsoidally shaped; in particular, the beads may be shaped as oblate spheroids to facilitate their placement into packets while keeping the packets substantially sheet-like in geometry. Scented beads may be 1/16 to ½ inch in longest dimension, and a single packet may contain 20 to 1000 beads.

FIG. 2 illustrates fragrance accessory 100 within a consumer product 200. Similar to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows consumer product 200 and fabric of fragrance accessory 100 as transparent for clarity of illustrating fragrance accessory 100 and scented material 130 respectively, but consumer product 200 and fabric of fragrance accessory 100 need not be transparent. Consumer product 200 is for example a pillow or slipcover that is manufactured with a pocket 210 sewn in.

Thus, in the embodiment shown, consumer product 200 is in the form of an outer pocket (e.g., a pillow case) while pocket 210 forms an inner pocket within consumer product 200. Pocket 210 may include means for removably retaining fragrance accessory 100; for example FIG. 2 schematically shows a hook and loop fastener 220 (e.g., Velcro ™), but the means for removably retaining fragrance accessory 100 could instead utilize one or more flaps, buttons, snaps, hook and eye fasteners, or zippers. Fragrance accessory 100 is thus easily removable from pocket 210, for example when it is desired to clean consumer product 200, or so that a different fragrance accessory 100 may be inserted into pocket 210 when scented material 130 loses its potency or a different fragrance is desired. Pocket 210 may be formed within consumer product 200 as shown (when a zipper 230 closes, pocket 210 will be within product 200 such that pocket 210 and/or fragrance accessory 100 will not be visible), or pocket 210 may be formed on an exterior surface of consumer product 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates insertion of a fragrance accessory 300 within a consumer product 310, which is for example a decorative throw that a pocket 320 forms an integral part of Fragrance accessory 300 may be inserted within pocket 320, as suggested by an arrow, and may be retained within pocket 320 by utilizing a flap 330 that removably retains fragrance accessory 300. Fragrance accessory 300 is formed of one or more of the same types of vapor-permeable fabric, and contains one or more of the types of scented material described in connection with fragrance accessory 100, FIGS. 1 and 2. Pocket 320 may be formed with an exterior surface of consumer product 310, or may be formed interior to consumer product 310. Forming pocket 320 interior to consumer product 310 may allow fragrance accessory 300 to provide a more diffuse and/or longer lasting scent than forming pocket 320 with an exterior surface.

FIG. 4 illustrates insertion of a fragrance accessory 400 within a consumer product 410, and FIG. 5 illustrates insertion of a fragrance accessory 500 within a consumer product 510. Each of fragrance accessories 400 and 500 are formed of one or more of the same types of vapor-permeable fabric, and contain one or more of the same types of scented material, as described in connection with fragrance accessory 100, FIGS. 1 and 2. Fragrance accessories 400 and 500 are retained within consumer products 410 and 510 respectively by gravity. Fragrance accessories 400 and 500 are embodiments that are not necessarily either round or flat, but are shaped according to generally conform to an outline of a consumer product.

Many consumer product types may be configured to removably receive fragrance accessories, for example by attaching a pocket, basket or similar holding mechanism to an inconspicuous surface thereof, for example undersides of tables, desks, chairs, entertainment centers, dresser or kitchen cabinet drawers, back sides of cabinets, various hidden surfaces of kitchen and bathroom sink enclosures, and the like. Holding mechanisms for fragrance accessories may be fixedly mounted in such locations (e.g., with permanent fasteners such as screws) or may be removably mounted (e.g., with adhesives or with removable fasteners such as snaps, or by hanging the holding mechanism from an existing feature). Whether the holding mechanism is fixedly or removably mounted, the mechanism itself allows the fragrance accessory to be easily removed and replaced with another fragrance accessory of the same scent or of a different scent, when a scent of the original fragrance accessory fades or when a different scent is desired. Consumer product types that can be configured for compatibility with (that is, the ability to removably receive) fragrance accessories include, but are not limited to, pillows, bedcovers, cushions, bedcovers, drapes or other window coverings, automobile seats or head liners, and others.

FIG. 6 illustrates fragrance accessories 600 outside of and within packaging for retail sale, according to embodiments. Several fragrance accessories 600 are shown as if resting on a surface, and several more fragrance accessories 600 are shown within a retail package 610. As noted above, fragrance accessories are substantially flat such that many fragrance accessories 600 can be packaged within a single retail package 610. As shown in FIG. 6, retail package 610 is a container with an open interior and a lid that encloses the interior, and is made for example of plastic that may optionally be transparent so that a customer can see fragrance accessories 600 in the interior. In the illustration of FIG. 6, retail package 610 includes an optional vent 630 so that the customer can smell fragrance accessories 600. Optional vent 630 is covered with a decorative tape 640 that may be pulled back by a prospective customer, using a tab 650, to expose vent 630 so that the prospective customer can smell fragrance accessories 600. Vent 630 may then be resealed by replacing decorative tape 640 over vent 630. Retail package 610 with a plurality of fragrance accessories 600 stacked adjacent each other therein may be understood to be a fragrance accessory kit. Other fragrance accessory kits may include retail packages that are not rectilinear packages like retail package 610, may have different ways of retaining fragrance accessories therein, and/or may have different means for providing prospective customers with scent samples (e.g., slidable vent coverings, scratch-and-sniff cards, and the like) as compared to retail package 610.

A retail outlet may, for example, offer a variety of scents available in packets of identical shape and size, and may configure a variety of consumer product types and/or holding mechanisms for compatibility with the identically shaped and sized packets. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates options for marketing fragrance accessories 700 and consumer products 720 configured to receive the fragrance accessories 700. Fragrance accessories 700 are offered for sale in a variety of scents, with fragrance accessories 700(1), 700(2) and 700(3) corresponding to different scents and packaged in respective retail packages 710(1), 710(2) and 710(3); consumer products 720 may be offered for sale at the same location as fragrance accessories 700. A consumer can purchase one retail package 710 with some number of fragrance accessories 700 therein, and can also select one or more consumer products 720 in which to place individual ones of the fragrance accessories 700. For example, FIG. 7 shows a consumer product 720(1) as a pillow, a consumer product 720(2) as an adhesive backed holder, a consumer product 720(1) as a candle and a consumer product 720(4) as a decorative throw. In embodiments, various consumer products 720 may retain identically sized and shaped fragrance accessories by different mechanisms (e.g., flaps, zippers, buttons, latching baskets and others).

The consumer thus perceives fragrance accessories 700 and consumer products 720 associated with fragrance accessories 700, as a customizable fragrance accessory system. The consumer may choose to implement a “theme” based on a common scent across various locations of the consumer's home. The consumer may further choose to extend the “theme” across other locations—such as the consumer's office, studio, or other workplace—or to objects that may travel with the consumer, such as the consumer's car, briefcase, purse or jacket. The consumer may choose to continue to provide new fragrance accessories 700 of the same scent when the original packets lose their scent, or may choose to switch partially or completely to a different scent from time to time. Marketed for this purpose, availability of the packets may encourage a consumer to purchase multiple consumer product types that are compatible with the identically shaped and sized packets.

Embodiments have now been described in detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fragrance accessory kit, comprising a container defining an open interior and having a lid to enclose the interior; a plurality of packets that are each formed of a vapor-permeable fabric, wherein each packet is sheet-like in geometry; and a scented material disposed within each of the packets, the vapor-permeable fabric being secured about the scented material as to prevent escape of the scented material from the packet; and wherein the packets are stacked adjacent each other within the container.
 2. The fragrance accessory kit of claim 1, wherein the scented material comprises a plurality of scented beads.
 3. The fragrance accessory kit of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of scented beads comprises a mixture of ethylene vinyl acetate and a fragrance.
 4. The fragrance accessory kit of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of scented beads is between 1/16 inch and ½ inch in longest dimension, and the plurality of scented beads comprises 20 to 1000 beads, such that the packets are sheet-like in geometry.
 5. The fragrance accessory kit of claim 1, the vapor-permeable fabric comprising one of acetate, acrylic, cotton, linen, olefin, polyester, rayon, silk and wool.
 6. A fragrance accessory system, comprising: a fragrance accessory, comprising a packet formed of a vapor-permeable fabric, and a portion of scented material, the vapor-permeable fabric being secured about the scented material as to prevent escape of the scented material from the packet; and a consumer product that is configured to removably retain the fragrance accessory such that the portion of scented material provides a scent for the consumer product.
 7. The fragrance accessory system of claim 6, the portion of scented material comprising a plurality of scented beads.
 8. The fragrance accessory system of claim 7, each of the plurality of scented beads comprising a mixture of ethylene vinyl acetate and a fragrance.
 9. The fragrance accessory system of claim 6, the vapor-permeable fabric comprising one of acetate, acrylic, cotton, linen, olefin, polyester, rayon, silk and wool.
 10. The fragrance accessory system of claim 6, the consumer product further comprising a pocket formed of a vapor-permeable fabric, the pocket being configured to removably retain the packet.
 11. The fragrance accessory system of claim 10, wherein the pocket is an inner product disposed within an outer pocket formed by the consumer product, and further comprising a pillow disposed within the outer pocket.
 12. The fragrance accessory system of claim 10, wherein the pocket retains the packet by means of a hook and loop fastener.
 13. The fragrance accessory system of claim 10, the consumer product being an open vessel that receives the fragrance accessory by placement of the fragrance accessory within the open vessel, and retains the fragrance accessory by means of gravity.
 14. The fragrance accessory system of claim 10, wherein the consumer product is a first one of a plurality of consumer products, and further comprising others of the plurality of consumer products, wherein each one of the plurality of consumer products is configured to removably retain the fragrance accessory.
 15. A method of implementing a fragrance accessory for use with a consumer product, comprising: securing a scented material within a packet so as to prevent escape of the scented material from the packet, the packet comprising a vapor-permeable fabric and forming the fragrance accessory; and configuring the consumer product to removably receive the fragrance accessory.
 16. The method of implementing a fragrance accessory for use with a consumer product of claim 15, wherein the scented material is a first portion of scented material, the packet is one of a plurality of packets and the consumer product is one of a plurality of consumer product types; and further comprising: securing further portions of the scented material into ones of the plurality of packets, each of the plurality of packets comprising an identical shape and size, and configuring each of the plurality of the consumer product types to removably receive the identically shaped and sized packets.
 17. The method of implementing a fragrance accessory for use with a consumer product of claim 16, further comprising marketing multiple ones of the plurality of packets within a single retail package.
 18. The method of implementing a fragrance accessory for use with a consumer product of claim 17, further comprising marketing the plurality of consumer product types at the same location as the single retail package.
 19. The method of implementing a fragrance accessory for use with a consumer product of claim 18, wherein the scented material is a first scented material having a first scent, the fragrance accessory is a first fragrance accessory, the packet is a first packet, the plurality of packets is a first plurality of packets, and the single retail package is a first retail package; and further comprising: securing a second scented material within a second packet so as to prevent escape of the second scented material from the second packet, the second packet comprising a vapor-permeable fabric and forming a second fragrance accessory, the second scented material having a different scent than the first scented material; securing further portions of the second scented material into ones of a second plurality of packets, each of the second plurality of packets comprising the identical shape and size as the first plurality of packets; stacking the second plurality of packets within a second retail package, each of the first and second retail packages having means for providing prospective customers with scent samples; and marketing the first and second retail packages at the same location. 